Gas, Diesel Tank
Moderator: Fatmobile
-
- Diesel Freak
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:56 pm
- Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Gas, Diesel Tank
My plastic gas tank has a small leak mainly after fill ups. I was considering replacing my gas tank. Has anyone changed out their tanks and any tricks you can provide me with? Oh, by the way it is 1986 Golf Diesel.
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
If it's when filling up, have you checked to see if the leak is coming from the fill tube connection point or a vent/fuel line connection point? Changing a good tank to another good tank won't necessarily fix one of these issues.
If you do change the tank, yYou're in the south, so your straps may not be rusted too bad. If they are, buy new straps. I haven't pulled one out of a VW before, but you definately want the tank empty, or as empty as possible before you start. Fuel is approximately 8 lbs per gallon. It's a fairly easy task to do. Are you sure that there isn't a spot that you can fix the leak? If it's not on a seam, you should be able to buy epoxy and patch the hole.
If you do change the tank, yYou're in the south, so your straps may not be rusted too bad. If they are, buy new straps. I haven't pulled one out of a VW before, but you definately want the tank empty, or as empty as possible before you start. Fuel is approximately 8 lbs per gallon. It's a fairly easy task to do. Are you sure that there isn't a spot that you can fix the leak? If it's not on a seam, you should be able to buy epoxy and patch the hole.
Everybody else lists their cars here - but not me.
I have too many to count
I have too many to count
-
- Turbo Charger
- Posts: 613
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:27 pm
- Location: The Dirty South
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
I'd check the fuel sending unit, and the seal. I've seen quite a few sending unit rust on the tops of the feed/return tubes.
Or the vent tubes as noted.
The plastic tanks don't usually go bad.
Or the vent tubes as noted.
The plastic tanks don't usually go bad.
-
- Diesel Freak
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:56 pm
- Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
Do I have to remove the tank to get to the sending unit or the sealing ring?
-
- Turbo Charger
- Posts: 613
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:27 pm
- Location: The Dirty South
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
diesel freak wrote:Do I have to remove the tank to get to the sending unit or the sealing ring?
No. There is a round inspection cover in the trunk under the carpet. It's held in place with 3 phillips screws. Pull the cover off. You will see the 2 hoses (feed and return) and the wires for the sending unit. To get the unit out, you will unscrew (counterclockwise) the retaining ring around the outside of the sending unit. A big screwdriver or flat stock with a hammer against the ridges works well to get it out.
Before you pull the sending unit, look for wetness in that area. It should confirm that either the seal or the sending unit is bad.
-
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 7568
- Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 10:28 pm
- Location: north central Iowa
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
You might want to have a vacuum cleaner handy,
seems like alot of crap gathers in the depression around the sender.
seems like alot of crap gathers in the depression around the sender.
'91 Golf gasser converted to a 12mm pump, M-TDI.
'84 1.6TD Rabbit with a VNT-15 turbo, still setup to run on vegetable oil.
'84 GTI with 1.7TD pistons and intercooled.
2003 TDI wagon
2000 TDI Jetta.
'84 1.6TD Rabbit with a VNT-15 turbo, still setup to run on vegetable oil.
'84 GTI with 1.7TD pistons and intercooled.
2003 TDI wagon
2000 TDI Jetta.
-
- Diesel Freak
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:56 pm
- Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
I found a fuel sender off an 87 Golf Gasser, can I use it in my Diesel?
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
Is yours leaking?
Everybody else lists their cars here - but not me.
I have too many to count
I have too many to count
-
- Turbo Charger
- Posts: 613
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:27 pm
- Location: The Dirty South
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
diesel freak wrote:I found a fuel sender off an 87 Golf Gasser, can I use it in my Diesel?
Yes and no. You will have to omit the red-yellow wires for the fuel pump. You'll also need to delete the internal fuel pump, and swap your pickup-tube off your diesel sending unit. Hard to explain, but you'll know what I'm talking about when you have them side-by-side.
I'd pull your diesel one and inspect for leaks. Then, go from there.
-
- Diesel Freak
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:56 pm
- Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
Anyone know where I can buy a fuel sender gasket? Tried all my local sellers with no avail.
-
- Diesel Freak
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:56 pm
- Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
Opened the hatch where the fuel sender is and discovered that the main threaded plastic top piece was not even hand tighten. The gasket around the fuel sender looked OK, even though it was flopping around and the whole well was encrusted with gunky diesel sludge and dirt. Back in 1987 I mistakenly filled my diesel up with gasoline, it ran for one block and I had it towed to the dealership. They charged me $50 to drain the tank. I wonder if they accessed the fuel sender to drain it and never put it back on properly. Hopefully I just fixed my leak and will no longer be looking for a gasket for the fuel sender.
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
It probably was that simple of a solution to stop the leak. You'll be the first to find out if it did stop it...........
Everybody else lists their cars here - but not me.
I have too many to count
I have too many to count
-
- Diesel Freak
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:56 pm
- Location: Charlotte, N.C.
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
Filled the tank up to see if it would leak. No more leaking but my fuel gauge not longer reads full only 3/4's. Is that my fuel sender freaking out since it no longer leaks past the top or is it my guage. It use to register full after a complete fill up.
-
- Turbo Charger
- Posts: 613
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:27 pm
- Location: The Dirty South
Re: Gas, Diesel Tank
diesel freak wrote:Filled the tank up to see if it would leak. No more leaking but my fuel gauge not longer reads full only 3/4's. Is that my fuel sender freaking out since it no longer leaks past the top or is it my guage. It use to register full after a complete fill up.
That's odd. I'd pull it out and check the contacts on the gradient-strip for the float. Not sure why that would be.